chapter 3

Question 1

“came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars”

• Gatbsy’s parties

Answer 1

• Hendiadys of 2 verbs
  o Shows fleeting nature of visits to the part as the guests are transient visitors who never stick around
• Beautiful imagery
  o Conveys the magic of the parties
• Simile
  o Connotations of creatures as people turn up because of their attraction to the light, excitement and extravagance of the party
  o Shows restlessness of the 20s / Jazz Age
• Contrast of colour symbolism
  o Blue = symbolic of dreams
  o Green = associated with gardens which draws attention to the fantasy-like atmosphere which was a typical romantic setting
  o Influenced by Keats
• Polysyndeton (repetition of and/but/or) and triadic structure further emphasise the magical setting
  o Can also highlight the emptiness of the 20s with their appreciation for the shallow and superficial
  o Glamorised until reality hits

Question 2

“they conducted themselves according to the rules of behaviour associated with amusement parks.”

-West Egger’s

Answer 2

• West egger’s / new money conduct themselves in a different fashion than old money / east egger’s do
  o Less proper

Question 3

“ agonizingly aware of the easy money in the vicinity”

• West Egger’s

Answer 3

• Acknowledges differences between parties in East & West
• Reference of questionable dubiousness associated with west egg business
  o Gatsby’s acquisition of wealth due to his involvement in illicit alcohol sales
  o Law prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol
• New money guests use Gatsby’s parties to access business and social opportunities

Question 4

“ preserved a dignified homogeneity, and assumed to itself the function of representing the staid nobility of the country-side—East Egg condescending to West Egg, and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic gayety.”

• East Egg

Answer 4

• Marxist approach – American dream presents a challenge to status quos (East) & elite layer of society
• Nick criticises hedonistic extravagant lifestyle of West Egg
  o Tom , Daisy , Jordan etc. don’t hide their condescending attitude towards them
• Fitzgerald condemning 20s society

Question 5

“She was incurably dishonest…“Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply”

• Nick

Answer 5

• Exposes underlying misogyny of the 20s
• Proves himself to have similar views towards women as Tom
  o Reader doubts his reliability
• Jordan appears to reject stereotypical role of meek submissive woman and paves her own way to success
  o May be a mild femme fatale in her carelessness